Sheet-handling apparatus for photocopiers

ABSTRACT

The disclosed sheet-handling apparatus includes a free-floating cylinder supported on and driven into rotation about its axis by a pair of spaced rollers. A third driven roller above the cylinder is biased downwardly against the cylinder surface to maintain the cylinder positionably supported by the two lower rollers. A document sheet moving with the cylinder surface passes through an exposure station pursuant to copy making. A gate selectively positioned adjacent the cylinder is effective to divert the document sheet away from the cylinder after a predetermined number of copies have been made.

O United States Patent 1 3,591,281

[72] lnventors Walter P. Kruhlinski 2,585,519 2/l 952 Ven Der Grinten .v 355/l04 Norwalk; 2,783,697 3/1957 Eisner et al. 355/1l0 Robe; DuBms Farfield both Conn Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews {2| 1 :33; 1968 Assistant Examiner-Richard A Wintercorn e Attorneys-William D. Soltow, .lr., Albert w. Scribner and [45] Patented July 6, 1971 Martin D winstein [73] Assignee Pitney-Bowes, lnc.

Stamford, Conn.

E [54] SHEET-HANDLING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOCOPIERS 14 Claims 5 Drawing ABSTRACT: The disclosed sheet-handling apparatus includes [52] US. Cl 355/49, 3 f fl ti cylinder Supported on and driven into rotation 355/5 355/104, about its axis by a pair of spaced rollers. A third driven roller [51] Int. Cl G03b 27/70 above the li d i bi d downwardly againstthe cylinder [59] Field of Search 355/49, 50, surface to maintain he cylinder positionably Supported by the 1 two lower rollers. A document sheet moving with the cylinder surface passes through an exposure station pursuant to copy [56] Remuces cued making. A gate selectively positioned adjacent the cylinder is UNITED STATES PATENTS effective to divert the document sheet away from the cylinder 2,572,930 10/1951 Heldens 355/ 104 X after a predetennined number of copies have been made.

PATENIEB JUL 6 I9?! 3591 2 1 SHEET 2 BF 4 llO INVENTORS g Wolfer P Kruhlinskl Roberr C. QuBois [(10.10) V (0% ATTORNEY PATENTED JUL 6 IBYI SHEET 3 BF 4 mmw. M END 0 I C A P 8 Tb m m w W W nmw PATENTEUJUL 6H?! 3,591,281

SHEET u UF 4 il/Ill? INVENTORS Wolrer P. Kruhlinski Roberf C. DuBois 6416.1; Bum

ATTORNEY The present invention has particular application to the class of photocopying machines in which the original document is accepted by the machine for conveyance along a predetermined intemal path pursuant to copy making. After the image carried by the document has been transferred to a copy sheet, the document is returned to the user. The process by which copies are made is not significant as the apparatus of the invention is applicable to electrostatic as well as photographic copiers.

Many of the know photocopiers of this type utilize a complicated assortment of pinch rollers, guides, belt conveyors and diverters for translating the original document into, through and out of the machine. There is a certain reluctance among users to entrust a valuable original document to such complex and involved sheet handling apparatus, fearing a malfunction or jam will result in damage or destruction of the document. If there is a malfunction or jam in the sheet-handling apparatus, the user may encounter considerable difficulty in safely extracting the original document, particularly if it becomes stranded in the far reaches of its path through the copier. Considerable disassembly may. be required to extract the document, and a serviceman may have to be brought in. In either case, considerable valuable time is lost.

As a consequence, great emphasis is placed on proper feeding of the original document into the copier so that it will be in substantially proper alignment when accepted by the sheethandling apparatus, thus reducing the possibility of jamming. In some cases, a transparent carrier is used to envelop the original document and protect it from damage should a jam occur. Unfortunately, the interposition of the transparent carrier in the copier optics typically gives rise to inferior copies.

In most office photocopy machines it is desirable to have a multicopy feature wherein multiple copies may be made from a single original without having to repeatedly refeed the original into the machine. To provide this capability, the sheet-handling apparatus has become more complex, with additional pinch rollers, conveyors and guides, as well as some sort of movable diverter for selectively recycling the original through its normal path without the user intervention.

To simplify the sheet-handling apparatus, several manufacturers of photocopy machines have resorted to the use of drums or cylinders for supporting and guiding the original document as it is translated through the copier. l-lleretofore, such drums have been mounted on axial shafts for rotation pursuant to translating the original document through the copier. In the event of a jam, it becomes difficult to extract the original particularly if the drum has revolved to the point where the document is located on the reverse side of the drum from the point of physical access.

Moreover, when using a drum as the document-conveying member, it has heretofore been necessary to provide some provision on the drum for engaging or gripping the original document to insure that it moves in unison with the drum surface. Rather than engage the document itself, it has been proposed to encase the document in a transparent carrier having a leading edge construction adapted either to engage the drum or be engaged by the drum in order to insure positive movement of the document through the machine. The provision for engaging the documents adds complexity, thereby increasing the cost of sheet-handling apparatus.

Accordingly it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a document-handling apparatus for photocopy machines which obviates or eliminates the advantage of prior art document-handling arrangements, and which is relatively simple in design and construction, reliable in operation and can be easily and quickly disassembled by an operator for service and/or access to the entire document feed path.

Another object is to provide an apparatus having a minimum number of components for feeding documents ef fectively through a copying path either successively or in a recycling mode, and which is adaptable without substantial modification to other sheet feeding applications and environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided simple and inexpensive sheet-handling apparatus for conveying the original document in an efficient and safe manner. The apparatus of the invention is adaptable to a side variety of office photocopy machines, including those using photographic, electrostatic and xerographic imaging processes. In fact, the invention may be used in those copying processes requiring conveyance of both the original document and the copy sheet in superimposition. I

The invention utilizes a free-floating cylinder or drum to support and guide the original document in its travel through the copier. The drum, though rotated about its axis, is completely lacking in any axial mounting provision. The drum may be readily removed to facilitate extraction of the original document in the unlikely event a jam or malfunction should occur.

The drum is supported on a pair of elongated rollers mounted in spaced, parallel relation. The axis of these rollers and of the drum are mutually parallel, and thus the peripheral surfaces of the rollers, in supporting the drum engage the drum peripheral surface. At least one, and preferably both, of these rollers are rotatably driven to rotate the drum about its axis.

A third elongated roller, stationed above the drum, is biased downwardly against the drum peripheral surface so as to maintain it positionably supported on the lower two rollers. The document to be copied is fed into the nip between the upper roller and the drum, and is translated with the moving drum surface in an arcuate path through an exposure station pur suant to copy making. The document sheet also passes between the lower two rollers and the drum and beyond where a gate mechanism is stationed. The gate mechanism is selectively positioned relative to the drum to divert the document therefrom and return it to the user after a predetermined number of copies have been made.

The upper roller, preferably driven in unison with the lower rollers through an elastic drivebelt, is mounted such that it may be removed from the drums and latched in a remote position. With the upper roller so positioned, the drum may be readily lifted away from the two lower supporting rollers, exposing the original document for convenient removal should a jam occur.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS vertical sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The sheet-handling apparatus of the invention is shown generally in FIG. 1 adapted to an electrostatic copier. It will be appreciated that the sheet-handling apparatus of the invention is equally applicable to other types and kinds of copiers. An original document 10 to be copied is placed face up on a tray E1. The document is slid into the copier to a point where it is accepted by the sheet-handling apparatus of the invention, generally indicated at 12. According to a preferred embodiment the sheet-handling apparatus 12, concealed by a removable cover 13, includes a free-floating drum 14 supported on a pair of elongate rollers 16 and 18 mounted in parallel, spaced relation. The axis of the rollers 16 and 18 and the drum 14 are mutually parallel such that the peripheral surface of the drum rests on the peripheries of the rollers substantially throughout their respective lengths. Rollers l6 and 18 are driven in a manner to be described to rotate the drum 14 about its axis. An upper roller 20, driven with rollers 16 and 18, is biased downward against the drum peripheral surface to maintain it positionably supported on the lower rollers. The leading edge of the document is fed into the nip of upper roller 20 and drum 14 and drawn into the copier. The document is propelled along while being guided in an arcuate path bounded by the drum surface and an arcuate guide plate 22. The document then passes between the lower roller 18 and the drum to an exposure station, generally indicated at 24, where the image borne by the document is scanned by a light source 26. Beyond the exposure station 24, the document passes between lower roller 16 and the drum 14, presenting its leading edge to a gate mechanism, generally indicated at 28. This gate mechanism, to be described, is selectively positioned to either intercept and divert the document from the drum to a shelf 30 for return to the user or passes the document for continued movement with the drum, ultimately arriving again at the exposure station 24. A guide plate 32, together with the drum surface, defines the arcuate path for the document beyond the gate mechanism 28. It is thus seen that as long as the gate mechanism does not intercept the document, it is recycled pursuant to a multiple copy operating mode.

Still referring to FIG. 1, as the light source 26 scans the document image moving through the exposure station 24, the reflected image is directed by a mirror 34 through a lense assembly 36 for projection at an image station, generally indicated at 38. Copy paper 40 having a suitable photoconductive coating on a conductive substrate is drawn from a supply roll 42 by pinch rollers 44. The copy paper is cut into sheet lengths corresponding to the length of the original 10 by a cutter mechanism, generally indicated at 46. The copy sheet is then conveyed by pinch rollers 48 to a corona charger, generally indicated at 50, operating to place a unifon'n electrostatic charge on the photoconductive coating. The sheet is then conveyed by pinch rollers 51 so as to be positioned at the image station 38 just in advance of the time when the light source 26 begins scanning the document image as it moves through the exposure station 24.

In accordance with well-known electrostatic copying techniques, the image to be copied is then projected by the lens system 36 onto the photoconductive layer. The conductive substrate permits selective discharge of the uniform electrostatic charge on the photoconductive layer in proportion to the image light intensity projected by the lens system 36. Thus, the optical image to be copied is transformed into a latent electrostatic image on the photoconductive layer of the copy sheet. The sheet is then conveyed by pinch rollers 52 to a developing station, generally indicated at 53, where the latent electrostatic image is developed, i.e., rendered visible. From the development station 53, the copy sheet is conveyed by pinch rollers 54 to a drying station, generally indicated at 56, and then to a compartment 57 where copies are accumulated.

The various components of the sheet-handling apparatus 12 are mounted by a pair of side frame members 60a and 60b, which are in turn mounted by screws 63 to main side frames 62a and 62b of the copier as best seen in FIG. 2. Arcuate guide plate 22 spans the entire width between side frames 60:: and 60b and is attached at its ends thereto by suitable means (not shown). A pair of microswitches 66 and 68 supported on guide plate 22 by a bracket 69 have actuating arms 66a and 68a extending into overlying relationship with the drum [4, as best seen in FIG. 4. The guide plate 22 is notched at 220 to permit the downwardly turned free ends of the actuating arms 66a and 68a to extend downwardly into annular grooves 14a formed in the peripheral surface of drum 14.

Switch 68 is actuated by the leading edge of the document as it feeds past the upper roller 20 for the purpose of turning on various components of the copier, such as the corona charger 50, the copy paper feed rollers 44 and 48, light source 26, etc. Switch 66, on the other hand, is actuated in response to passage of the trailing edge of the document to operate the cutter 46 such that the copy paper is cut into sheet lengths corresponding to the length of the document. It is understood, that the drive of the sheet-handling apparatus 12 is initiated when the main copier switch is turned on by the user.

The front arcuate guide member 32 is formed having tabs 32a struck therefrom adjacent each end, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. Each tab carries a resilient clip fastener 70 (FIG. 4) for releasably engaging a pin 71 mounted by and extending inwardly from each side frame 60a, and 60b. The lower portion of the front guide plate 32 carries a locating tab 72 adjacent each end. These depending tabs abut inwardly extending locating pins 74 mounted in the side frames 60a, and 60b to insure proper mounting of the guide plate 32 relative to the drum periphery. By virtue of this mounting arrangement, the front guide plate 32 is readily removed to permit access to and removal of the drum 14.

The upper roller 20, as seen in FIGS. 2 through 4, spans the entire distance between side frames 60a and 60b. Each end of the upper roller mounts a reduced diameter stub shaft 20a which is received in upwardly opening notches 76 formed in the top edges of side frames 60a and 60b. The ends of the stub shafts 20a beyond side frames 60a and 60bmount pulleys 78 for imparting rotation to the roller 20, as will be described.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the lower rollers 16 and 18 are journaled at each end in bearing blocks 82, which are mounted in laterally opening notches 84 formed in a depending flange portion 86 on the side frame 60a and 60b. As best seen in FIG. 2, the left ends of bottom rollers 16 and 18 have stub shaft extensions 16a and 18a extending beyond the carrier side frame 610 and mounting sprockets 90. These sprockets are engaged by a drive chain 92, driven off the copier motor (not shown). Stub shaft extension 18a of lower roller 18 carries a pulley 94 to intermediate side frames 60a and 62a. An elastic drive member 96 is wrapped about pulley 94 and pulley 78 keyed to stub shaft extension 20a of upper roller 20. As further seen in FIG. 2, a stub shaft extension 1811 at the other end of roller 18 mounts another pulley 94 which engages another drive member 96 wrapped about the pulley 78 keyed to the subshaft 20a at the other end of upper roller 20. The elastic drive members 96 serve not only to communicate the drive of the lower rollers to the upper roller but also to resiliently bias the upper roller downwardly in its mounting notches 76 to exert uniform driving pressure on the surface of drum 14 along their mutual lengths. The downward pressure of upper roller 20 on drum 14 also serves to maintain the drum supported on the lower rollers in frictional driving engagement therewith. Preferably, to enhance driving engagement of roller 20 with drum 14, annular traction elements in the form of rubber O-rings 77 are accommodated in annular grooves in the roller surface. It is also desirable to similarly equip lower rollers 16 and 18.

In the event it is desired to remove drum 14, the upper roller 20 is lifted out of its mounting notches 76 and, after removing guide plate 32, the drum can be readily slipped out. In removing the upper roller 20, the drive members 96 may be slipped off the pulleys 78 at each end of the upper roller or, preferably, the upper roller is lifted out of its notches against the tension of the drive members and slid to the left as seen in FIG. 4, the stub shaft extension 20a resting on the top edges of side frames 60a, 60b. The upper roller will remain in this outof-the-way position clearing the way for removal of the drum l4.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an elongate glass plate 100 is positioned directly beneath the drum 14 intermediate the lower rollers 16 and 18 spanning the entire length of the drum. The glass plate 100 rests on an eccentric mount 102 secured to each side frame flange 86 by a screw 103. A resilient clip 104 engages the upper edge of a cutout 105 in each side frame flange and provides laterally extending tabs resiliently bearing against the upper surface of the glass plate 100. The screws 103 are loosened and the eccentric rotated to vary the spacing between the upper surface of the glass plate 100 and the peripheral surface of the drum. The location of the glass plate 100 relative to the peripheral surface of the drum insures that the document remains in contiguous relation with the drum peripheral surface as it passes through the exposure station. The light source 26 (FIG. ll) scans the image borne by the document through the glass plate 100, and the reflected image passes through the glass plate and ultimately to the image station 38.

The gate mechanism 28, seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, consists of an elongate plate 110 spanning substantially the entire distance between side frames 60a and 60b. The ends of plate 110 are bent upwardly to form mounting tabs 112 having holes 112a therethrough receiving an elongate mounting shaft 114 journaled in each end in side frames 60a and 60b. Intermediate the ends of plate 110 are a plurality of struck, upwardly extending diverter elements 116. As best seen in FIG. 5, the diverter elements 116 are selectively positioned through rotation of shaft 114 through several degrees of arc such that tips 116a thereof are either disposed below the drum surface in the annular surface grooves 14a aligned therewith or in various annular grooves 16b formed along the length of lower roller 16. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, ifthe tip 116a of each diverter element is disposed in a drum groove 14a, the leading edge of the document, after passing through the exposure station 24, is intercepted and diverted onto shelf 30 for return to the user. On the other hand, if the tips lllloa of the diverter elements are shifted away from the drum and into the roller annular grooves 16b, the document moving with the drum I4 is not intercepted. Consequently, the document continues moving with the drum, passing under upper roller and returning to exposure station 24 pursuant to making multiple copies of the same original document.

To control the gate mechanism, and referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, one end of the shaft 114 is extended through and beyond copier side frame 62b. A bellcrank 120 is keyed on this end of shaft 114 and held in place by a clip 122. A link 124 is pivotally connected at one end to bellcrank I20 and at its other end to the plunger 126a of a solenoid 11% mounted to side frame 62b. It is seen that if the solenoid plunger 126a is extended, shaft 114 of the gate mechanism 28 is rotated counterclockwise, moving the tips of 116a of the diverter elements 116 into the surface grooves 14a of the drum (FIG. 4). Consequently, the document is diverted from the drum and deposited on shelf 30. This is the normal position of the gate mechanism when only a single copy of the document is to be made. This normal position is maintained for the single copy mode by a spring 130 connected at one end to bellcrank 120 and anchored at the other end to the copier side frame 6212. When it is desired to produce multiple copies of a single document, the solenoid 126 is energized to retract its plunger 126a, rotating the gate mechanism shaft 114 against the force of the spring 130. This rotation in the clockwise direction (FIG. 3), moves the tips of the diverter elements 116 away from the drum l4 and into the annular grooves 16b in the lower roller 16. As a consequence, the leading edge of the document leaving the exposure station 24 is not intercepted and it continues around with the drum, returning to the exposure station once again.

A countdown mechanism, generally indicated at 140 in FIG. 3, is used to automatically control the position of the gate mechanism 23. The countdown mechanism includes a copy number selector in the form of a thumb wheel 142 journaled on a stub shaft 144 carried by a mounting plate 145 secured to the copier side frame 62b. Also journaled on the stub shaft 144 and rotating with the thumb wheel 142 is a ratchet wheel 146. The thumb wheel carries a laterally extending post 1420 for engaging the actuating arm 148 ofa microswitch 150 when the thumb wheel is in the home" or single copy position. It is seen that if the thumb wheel 142 is rotated in counterclockwise pursuant to the selection of the particular number of copies to be made from a single original, the post 1420 no longer is in engagement with the switch-actuating arm 148. The microswitch is thus permitted to close, completing an energization circuit for the gate mechanism solenoid 126. The consequent energization of solenoid 126 moves the diverter element tips 116a away from the drum periphery, permitting the copy document to continue moving with the drum 14 for return to the exposure station 24.

Closure of microswitch 150 also enables an energization circuit for a solenoid 152 mounted to plate 145. Solenoid 152 has its plunger I53 mechanically connected to a pawl 154 through a link 156. Pawl 154 is pivotally mounted at one end on a pin 158 received in an elongated slot l54a. Pin 158 is mounted by the plate 145. A spring 160, anchored at one end to the pawl 154 and at the other end to a bracket 162 secured to plate 145, rotates the pawl against a stop 166. With the pawl 154 in this position, plunger 153 of solenoid 152 is in its extended position. It is seen that when solenoid 152 is energized, attracting its plunger 153, pawl 154 is pivoted in the clockwise direction about pin I58, bringing its tip 154b into engagement with the ratchet wheel 146 (FIG. 3). Rotation of the pawl through a predetermined arc while its tip 1541) engages the ratchet wheel 146, causes the thumb wheel 142 to be rotated through an increment of rotation in the counterclockwise direction. Solenoid 152 is energized only momentarily and, upon deenergization, the pawl is returned to its normal position against stop 166 by spring 162. The lost motion pivoted mounting of the pawl enables it to clear the ratchet teeth as it is returned by the spring 162.

It is seen that thumb wheel 142 is rotated clockwise to select the number of copies to be made from a single original. Spring 143 bearing against ratchet wheel 146 serves as a detent to insure that the thumb wheel is properly angularly oriented for the number of copies desired. The solenoid 152 is pulsed at a predetermined time during each copy cycle, and during the last cycle, the thumb wheel returns to the angular position where the stop 142a again engages the actuating arm 148 to open microswitch 150. Gate mechanism solenoid 126 is deenergized to permit the diverters 116 to divert the document from the drum as the last copy is being made.

It is seen from the foregoing description that there is provided a simple and inexpensive sheet-handling apparatus particularly suited for application to photocopies. The apparatus of the invention is suited for single copy and multiple copy modes without requiring elaborate accessories; guide plate 32 being the only element used exclusively in the multiple copy mode. The simplicity and reliability of the apparatus is accomplished through the use of drum 14 as the supporting and principal guiding element for the document sheet as it is translated through the copier. Drum 14 may be made of any suitable material, such as steel or plastic. The surface of the drum is preferably given a white coloration so as to enhance copy quality when the document to be copied is somewhat transparent. The circumference of the drum must be somewhat greater than the length of the longest document to be copied, for example, 1 inch greater. It will be appreciated that with the document wrapped about drum 14, if the leading and trailing edges overlap, the gate mechanism is rendered inoperative in the multicopy mode since it will be unable to intercept the document leading edge after the first copy cycle. Moreover, the mocroswitches 66 and 68 will be rendered partially inoperative. Should the original document have a length less than the distance around the drum surface between the upper roller and lower roller I8 and, by the same token, less than the distance between lower roller 16 and upper roller 20, the document must be enveloped in a transparent carrier whose length is sufficient to insure continuous transport through the copier.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a photocopy machine, apparatus for handling document sheets to be copied, said apparatus comprising A. a free-floating drum having a peripheral surface for supporting a document sheet on said peripheral surface,

B. a pair of rollers having peripheral surfaces,

C means mounting said rollers in spaced parallel relation such that said rollers support said drum,

D. means for rotating said drum about its axis thereby to translate the document sheet in an arcuate path pursuant to producing the document-borne image, and

E. means including said rollers for maintaining said drum positionably supported by said rollers, for maintaining said document sheet in contiguous relationship with said peripheral surface of said drum, and for maintaining said document sheet in movement in unison with said peripheral surface of said drum through said arcuate path, said last-named means being separate and distinct from said drum.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said maintaining means includes means resiliently biased radially downwardly against said drum peripheral surface to maintain said drum positionably supported on said rollers.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said radially biased means is releasably mounted for movement to a latched position spaced from said drum peripheral surface to permit removal of said drum.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said radially biased means comprises A. a roller disposed diametrically opposite said roller pair with its axis parallel to the axis of said roller pair and said drum, and

B. an elastic drive element drivingly interconnecting at least one of said supporting rollers and said opposite roller.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said pair of rollers are mounted beneath said drum in support thereof and said opposite roller is mounted above said drum and is resiliently biased downwardly against said drum peripheral surface.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating said drum comprises at least one of said supporting rollers being driven about its axis and wherein said elastic drive element is drivingly interconnected with said driven one of said supporting rollers whereby said drum is rotated by peripheral surface contact with said driven supporting roller and said opposite roller.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said maintaining means includes a removable arcuate guide plate disposed in closely spaced relation to said drum to define in combination with said drum peripheral surface a portion of said arcuate path.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 which further includes a gate mechanism having a least one diverter element selectively positioned relative to said drum peripheral surface to intercept the leading edge of the document and divert it away from drum and out of said arcuate path.

" The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein A. said drum is formed to have an annular surface groove aligned with each said diverter element, and

B. each said diverter element is provided with a tapered end portion disposable in its aligned drum surface groove to intercept the document leading edge for diversion from said arcuate path.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said gate mechanism is disposed adjacent one of said roller pair,

A. said adjacent roller being formed having an annular surface groove aligned with each said diverter element, and

B. said diverter tapered end portion disposable in its aligned roller surface groove in nonintercepting relation to the document leading edge, I C. whereby the document continues moving in said arcuate path pursuant to a second reproduction of the documentborne image.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further including annular traction elements carried by the driven one of said rollers to enhance driving engagement with said drum.

12. In a photocopier, apparatus for handling document sheets to be copied, said apparatus comprising A. a drum for supporting a document sheet on its peripheral surface;

B. three elongate rollers mounted at spaced positions adjacent said drum said rollers having their axes parallel to said drum axis and their peripheral surfaces contacting said drum peripheral surface for maintaining said drum positionably supported by said rollers and for maintaining said document sheet in contiguous relationship with said peripheral surface of said drum;

C. means including said rollers for rotating said drum about its respective axis to translate the document sheet with said drum surface in an arcuate path pursuant to reproducing the document-borne image; and

D. an arcuate guide plate positioned adjacent said drum intermediate two of said three rollers to define with said drum peripheral surface a first portion of said arcuate path.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 12 further including A. a gate mechanism stationed adjacent said drum beyond said arcuate guide plate in the direction of drum rotation, said gate mechanism being selectively movable between first and second positions,

l. said gate mechanism in said first position being effective to intercept the document and divert it away from said arcuate path, and

2. said gate mechanism in said second position being ineffective to intercept the document; and

B. a second arcuate guide plate positioned adjacent said drum intermediate two of said three rollers and beyond said gate mechanism in the direction of drum rotation,

1. said second arcuate guide plate defining with said drum surface a second portion of said arcuate path in which the document passed by said gate mechanism when in its second position is translated with said drum surface leading to said first arcuate path portion.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein A. said drum is supported on the lowermost two of said three rollers the uppermost roller of said three rollers being resiliently biased downwardly against said drum surface to maintain said drum positionably supported on and in driving engagement with said two lowermost rollers, and

C. said rotating means being drivingly connected to at least one of said lowermost two rollers. 

1. In a photocopy machine, apparatus for handling document sheets to be copied, said apparatus comprising A. a free-floating drum having a peripheral surface for supporting a document sheet on said peripheral surface, B. a pair of rollers having peripheral surfaces, C. means mounting said rollers in spaced parallel relation such that said rollers support said drum, D. means for rotating said drum about its axis thereby to translate the document sheet in an arcuate path pursuant to producing the document-borne image, and E. means including said rollers for maintaining said drum positionably supported by said rollers, for maintaining said document sheet in contiguous relationship with said peripheral surface of said drum, and for maintaining said document sheet in movement in unison with said peripheral surface of said drum through said arcuate path, said last-named means being separate and distinct from said drum. Pg,18
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said maintaining means includes means resiliently biased radially downwardly against said drum peripheral surface to maintain said drum positionably supported on said rollers.
 2. said gate mechanism in said second position being ineffective to intercept the document; and B. a second arcuate guide plate positioned adjacent said drum intermediate two of said three rollers and beyond said gate mechanism in the direction of drum rotation,
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said radially biased means is releasably mounted for movement to a latched position spaced from said drum peripheral surface to permit removal of said drum.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said radially biased means comprises A. a roller disposed diametrically opposite said roller pair with its axis parallel to the axis of said roller pair and said drum, and B. an elastic drive element drivingly interconnecting at least one of said supporting rollers and said opposite roller.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said pair of rollers are mounted beneath said drum in support thereof and said opposite roller is mounted above said drum and is resiliently biased downwardly against said drum peripheral surface.
 6. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating said drum comprises at least one of said supporting rollers being driven about its axis and wherein said elastic drive element is drivingly interconnected with said driven one of said supporting rollers whereby said drum is rotated by peripheral surface contact with said driven supporting roller and said opposite roller.
 7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said maintaining means includes a removable arcuate guide plate disposed in closely spaced relation to said drum to define in combination with said drum peripheral surface a portion of said arcuate path.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 which further includes a gate mechanism having a least one diverter element selectively positioned relative to said drum peripheral surface to intercept the leading edge of the document and divert it away from said drum and out of said arcuate path.
 9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein A. said drum is formed to have an annular surface groove aligned with each said diverter element, and B. each said diverter element is provided with a tapered end portion disposable in its aligned drum surface groove to intercept the document leading edge for diversion from said arcuate path.
 10. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said gate mechanism is disposed adjacent one of said roller pair, A. said adjacent roller being formed having an annular surface groove aligned with each said diverter element, and B. said diverter tapered end portion disposable in its aligned roller surface groove in nonintercepting relation to the document leading edge, C. whereby the document continues moving in said arcuate path pursuant to a second reproduction of the document-borne image.
 11. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further including annular traction elements carried by the driven one of said rollers to enhance driving engagement with said drum.
 12. In a photocopier, apparatus for handling document sheets to be copied, said apparatus comprising A. a drum for supporting a document sheet on its peripheral surface; B. three elongate rollers mounted at spaced positions adjacent said drum said rollers having their axes parallel to said drum axis and their peripheral surfaces contacting said drum peripheral surface for maintaining said drum positionably supported by said rollers and for maintaining said document sheet in contiguous relationship with said peripheral surface of said drum; C. means including said rollers for rotating said drum about its respective axis to translate the document sheet with said drum surface in an arcuate path pursuant to reproducing the document-borne image; and D. an arcuate guide plate positioned adjacent said drum intermediate two of said three rollers to define with said drum peripheral surface a first portion of said arcuate path.
 13. The apparatus defined in claim 12 further including A. a gate mechanism stationed adjacent said drum beyond said arcuate guide plate in the direction of drum rotation, said gate mechanism being selectively movable between first and second positions,
 14. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein A. said drum is supported on the lowermost two of said three rollers the uppermost roller of said three rollers being resiliently biased downwardly against said drum surface to maintain said drum positionably supported on and in driving engagement with said two lowermost rollers, and C. said rotating means being drivingly connected to at least one of said lowermost two rollers. 